Tips & Tricks

Dynamic Photo function

The Dynamic Photo function allows you to crop out a moving subject from an image series on your camera in only a few steps and insert it into other pictures. In addition, you can download more than 100 Dynamic Photo animations to make your photos even livelier. The camera then creates a video for you, which you can use as an individual greeting to send to friends. Why not try this out straight away?

Just follow these steps

Using extracted "Dynamic Photo" subject samples

The memory of the digital camera is loaded with a range of extracted subject samples ex-works. You can use these subject samples to practise creating "Dynamic Photo" pictures by inserting the samples into your own snapshots.

Step 1: Take the snapshot into which you want to insert an extracted subject.

Remove the memory card from the camera (if inserted).
You will not be able to access the extracted subject samples in the camera's internal memory if a memory card is inserted.

Compose the image in Capture mode and take a normal snapshot by pressing the release button.
Insert the extracted subject sample in the snapshot you have just taken.

Step 2: Follow the process for creating a "Dynamic Photo" picture.

Use to switch to PLAY mode.

Perform the following operation on the camera: [MENU] → PLAY Tab → Dynamic Photo.

Select the snapshot you took in Step 1 above using and and then press [SET].

Select the extracted subject sample you wish to insert into the snapshot from the camera's internal memory using and and then press [SET].

Use the zoom control to set the subject size and adjust the insertion position by means of
,
,
and
.
When everything is set the way you want, press [SET].
The extracted subject sample is then inserted into the snapshot and creates a "Dynamic Photo".

Once the "Dynamic Photo" has been created, the completed picture appears in the colour display together with the inserted moving subject.
As soon as you are familiar with the procedure described above and feel comfortable using extracted subjects, you can start practising creating your own extracted subjects and inserting these into snapshots to create your own original "Dynamic Photo" pictures.

•

It is not possible to access extracted subject samples in the camera's internal memory if a memory card is inserted in the camera. Should you wish to use extracted subject samples while a memory card is inserted, please use the "Memory → Card" copy function to copy the subject samples to the memory card from the internal memory.

Creating a "Dynamic Photo" picture

Step 1: Photographing the subject.

"Dynamic Photo" pictures are created by extracting (cropping) the subject from a photo and inserting it into another photo. Here, the "subject" refers to the extracted (cropped) picture content of the first photo. Perform the following steps to photograph and extract a subject.

To extract the subject, start by photographing the subject against a background. Then take another shot of the same background, this time without the subject.

Switch on the camera and press the [BS] button (BEST SHOT).

Select "Dynamic Photo".
Select "Dynamic Photo" from the BEST SHOT scene menu (third scene). Set the red frame to "Dynamic Photo" using and and then press [SET].

Now take a photo of the subject.
The best results are obtained by attaching the camera to a tripod. Focus the camera on the moving subject and press the release button. If you select "Moving Subject", the camera takes CS (continuous shutter) images over a period of several seconds.

When using "Dynamic Photo" while photographing, the flash is automatically deactivated.

As a next step, take another photograph of the same background, this time without the subject.
Make sure that the subject is no longer in the section of the photo after taking the first photo including the subject. Hold the camera in a steady position to ensure that the background settings do not change compared to the first photo (with subject). Once everything is ready, press the release button. This time only one photograph (not CS images) is taken of the background.

FINISHED!
The camera compares the photographs taken in Steps 3 and 4, extracts the subject and shows it in the display. If you select "Moving Subject" all 20 subject images recorded are shown in the display, providing an impression of a moving picture.

The shot of only the background is not stored. The camera stores only the 20 extracted subject images.

You can stop the current image extraction by pressing [MENU] or [BS].

Step 2: Create the "Dynamic Photo" picture.

Use the following instructions to insert the subject previously extracted in Step 1 into a photograph (new background image) and create the subsequent "Dynamic Photo" picture.

Use to switch to PLAY mode.

Perform the following operation on the camera: [MENU] → PLAY Tab → Dynamic Photo

Select the background image required using and and then press [SET].
Select the image required for the background. You should take the background shot before you start this procedure.

A picture can only be used as a background shot if it fulfils the following conditions:

A photo taken using this camera or transferred to this camera's memory using Photo Transport

A photo with aspect ratio 4:3

Select the background subject to be inserted using and and then press [SET].

Use the zoom control to set the subject size and adjust the insertion position by means of
,
,
and
.
When everything is set the way you want, press [SET].
The subject is then inserted into the background and a "Dynamic Photo" created.

Once the creation of the "Dynamic Photo" picture is complete, the final picture is shown in the camera's display together with the moving subject.

FINISHED!

The size of a "Dynamic Photo" picture created by inserting a moving subject is 2 megapixels. If the background shot into which a moving subject is inserted is smaller than 2 megapixels, the "Dynamic Photo" picture is also the same size as the background shot.

The size of a "Dynamic Photo" picture created by inserting a stationary subject is 6 megapixels. If the background shot into which a stationary subject is inserted is smaller than 6 megapixels, the "Dynamic Photo" picture is also the same size as the background shot.

Four tips for good cropping of subjects

Use a blank wall with a colour that differs from the subject.

Take the subject image against a white wall or another surface whose colour differs from the subject. The camera cannot successfully crop out the subject if it has the same or similar colour as the background.

For the subject background, you should select a blank wall without complex patterns or shapes.

Select a smooth wall that has as few features as possible.
The best cropping results are obtained when the background consists of a wall that has no visible features at all. In this case, it is not necessary to precisely position the camera when taking the second shot (background only) for the Dynamic Photo. If you take the shot against a blank wall, you can move the camera as required when taking the CS images of the moving subject.
For this background type, select "1" for the "Number of images". You can find more detailed information under "Changing the 'Number of images' setting".

Find some reference points and use a tripod.
If the image contains reference points, as indicated above, you must compose the second (background only) picture precisely according to the reference points. In this case, you must hold the camera as steady as possible when taking the first (subject and background) and second (background only) shots. Use a tripod where possible, and ensure that the image is composed exactly the same for the first picture and the second picture.

Move the subject away from the wall to prevent shadows.
Shadows on the wall or on the ground caused by sunlight, illuminating objects or other light sources could possibly be interpreted by the camera as part of the subject. Shadows of this nature occur primarily when the subject is too close to the wall. Ensure that the subject is as far away from the wall as possible in these cases.

Do not use moving backgrounds.
Good cropping is not possible if moving objects other than the subject are present. For example, you should avoid breaking waves, trees moving in the wind etc.

Setting a subject type and CS speed

You can select one of the four subject types listed below. In addition, you can assign a stationary image (only one image) to a moving subject.
Follow the instructions below to modify the subject type.

Press [SET] before proceeding to take a shot of the subject in Step 3 according to the instructions in "Step 1: Photographing the subject".

Select the "Subject type" and then press [SET].

Select the subject type required using and and then press [SET].

You can select one of the four subject types listed below:

CS speed

Number of images

Subject type

Moving subject1 sec (20 fps)

20 images/sec

20 images

Creates a moving subject from the CS images.

The subject is cropped out of the CS images.

"Moving Subject 1 sec (20 fps)" results in softer subject movements, although the photographing time is limited to one second.

"Moving Subject 4 sec (5 fps)" allows for a longer photographing time, although the subject movements are somewhat abrupt.

Moving subject2 sec (10 fps)

10 images/sec

20 images

Moving subject4 sec (5 fps)

5 images/sec

20 images

Stationary subject

-

1 image

Photographs a single subject, which is cropped out and inserted into the background shot.

Changing the "Number of images" setting

Under normal circumstances the subject that you wish to crop out (extract) must be photographed against a background, and the background then photographed once again without the subject. When photographing against a single-colour background, however, extraction of the subject is already possible after taking only one shot.
Proceed as follows to set the "Number of images"

Press [SET] before proceeding to take a shot of the subject in Step 3 according to the instructions in "Step 1: Photographing the subject".

Select the "Number of images" and then press [SET].

Select the "Number of images" required using and and then press [SET].

When photographing under these conditions

Select this option

2

Subject against a complex background

In this case, you need two images to extract a subject.

1

Subject against a single-colour (unpatterned) background

A single shot suffices to extract the subject.

Step 3: More fun with dynamic photos!

You can use "Dynamic Photo" pictures created using Step 2 to great effect in many different ways.

On the camera:

"Dynamic Photo" pictures appear automatically as soon as you open the EXILIM colour display.

On the TV:

Connect your EXILIM to a TV via the AV cable; this allows you to view the "Dynamic Photo" pictures on the TV.